Homeostasis

Tahrik Rodriques
January 6 2013

Homeostasis

Maintaining Internal Balance 9.1

Homeostasis is the dynamic process where internal physical and chemical conditions are maintained within an optimal range promoting proper cellular function.

Body fluids and conditions that need to be monitored and maintained;
  • Internal temperature
  • blood glucose levels
  • blood pH
  • hormone levels

Internal environment: the extracellular fluid surrounding our cells and tissues, it also makes up the plasma portion of the blood
  • Interstitial fluid: the fluid surrounding the body cells / fills the spaces between our cells and tissues

Organ Systems Involved in Homeostasis

Nervous System: brain, spinal chord, peripheral nerves, sensory organs
Endocrine System: pituitary gland, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas
Muscular System: skeletal, cardiac, smooth muscle
Integumentary System: skin, sweat glands, hair, nails
Excretory System: kidneys, bladder, ureter, urethra
Reproductive System: female organs (ovaries, oviducts, uterus, vagina, mammary glands), male organs (testes, sperm ducts, accessory glands, penis)
Out of all the systems involved, the endocrine and nervous systems are the most important



Feedback Mechanisms 9.2

Two types of feedback mechanisms;
  • Positive: the response of a system that acts to increase the effect of any changes made to the system
    • enhance the effect of a change in the internal or external environment
    • usually does not result in homeostasis
homeostasis-pregnancy-positive-feedback.jpg
Labour contractions during child birth are good examples of positive feedback loops
  1. uterine contractions (stimulus) detected by the pituitary gland release oxytocin
  2. as the amount of oxytocin being released increases, uterine contractions increase, in turn more oxytocin is released and so on

  • Negative: the response of a system that acts to maintain equilibrium by compensating for any changes made to the system
    • responses to negative feedback loops may be physiological or behavioral

105_Negative_Feedback_Loops.jpg


stimulus: environmental change
sensor: the element of a feedback system detecting changes in environment
integrator/control: compares present conditions to ideal conditions
effector: it acts to return the system to its optimal state

Another example of a negative feedback loop is a thermostat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DFyt7FJn-UM